Existing data review · site reconnaissance · dam type and seepage risk analysis
A CT scan for dams · Time-lapse resistivity online monitoring. Fixed electrode arrays acquire repeatedly, upgrading point-based monitoring to continuous section-based monitoring that captures the dynamic evolution of the dam seepage field — resistivity changes reveal hidden risks before piezometric-pressure changes do.
Traditional approaches hit hard bottlenecks in efficiency, accuracy, and cost
Piezometers only measure isolated points. Where the seepage path is and how far it extends are left entirely to engineer experience.
Pore pressure and displacement are the "results" of seepage. By the time readings exceed thresholds, the problem has often been developing for a long time.
Pore pressure, water level, displacement, and rainfall each live in separate systems, with no unified view of the seepage field; correlation analysis is done manually.
With a single method, true and false alarms are hard to distinguish, and frequent false alarms erode the operations team's trust in alerts.
From data acquisition to value output, every layer is backed by DIGspace platform capabilities
Acquisition Device Layer
Data Aggregation Layer
Analysis & Presentation Layer
Application & Decision Layer
Each method has its strengths; the DIGspace platform makes multi-method collaboration more efficient
Profile-based monitoring across dam body, dam foundation, and abutment bypass; dynamic evolution of the seepage field; localization of seepage channels.
Piezometer and measuring weir data are ingested to provide absolute pressure and flow ground truth for calibration and conversion.
Shallow structural surveys of the dam body: periodic inspection of face slab voids, slope pavement distress, termite cavities, and more.
Time-lapse ERT adds the previously missing "volume" dimension, complementing the other methods
Point Pore water pressure · joint opening · local inclination Provides absolute ground truth
Line Temperature · strain · continuous along the cable Continuous monitoring along the alignment
Surface Surface displacement · large-scale deformation Macro-scale overall observation
Volume Seepage field · moisture content · leakage channels 3D spatial distribution
The more the dam material is a loose/porous medium whose conductivity changes markedly with water content, the better the method fits
| Category | Dam Type | Fit | Detectable Issues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth & Rockfill Dams | Face slab dam / central core dam / sloping-core dam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent fit | Seepage · moisture content changes in dam fill · seepage channels · integrity of the impervious element |
| Earth & Rockfill Dams | Homogeneous earth dam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent fit | Seepage field · phreatic line · piping risk · termite tunnels |
| Earth & Rockfill Dams | Rockfill dam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent fit | Rockfill moisture content · seepage channels · impervious element failure |
| Masonry Dams | Mortar masonry dam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good fit | Seepage · water in cracks · foundation seepage · abutment seepage |
| Masonry Dams | Dry-stone masonry dam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good fit | Void water filling · seepage paths · changes in dam body compaction |
| Concrete Dams | Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam | ⭐⭐⭐ Conditional fit | Seepage through lift joints · foundation seepage · ponding around galleriesThe monitoring target must shift — not the concrete mass itself |
| Concrete Dams | Gravity dam / arch dam | ⭐ Generally not suitable | Limited to independent survey lines for foundation/abutment bypass seepage; moisture changes in the dam mass itself are minimal |
| Other | Tailings dam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent fit | Phreatic line · dry beach length · seepage channels · dam saturation |
From requirements alignment to deliverable handover, every step has clear deliverables and quality control
A complete deliverable system — structured, traceable, and reusable
Real-time monitoring dashboard
Time-lapse comparison animation
Moisture content distribution map
Alert event log
Monthly monitoring briefing
Annual assessment report
Monitoring system layout map
Historical data archive
More than geophysical software — your partner in digital transformation
One survey line yields the moisture distribution of an entire cross-section, so seepage channels are identified wherever they occur
Continuous acquisition captures the dynamics during critical periods such as flood season and water transfer operations
Resistivity is converted to moisture content, making geophysical results speak engineering language
Multi-source comparison of electrical survey + pore pressure + water level + rainfall reduces false alarms and raises confidence
From geophysical parameters to engineering indicators, from single-epoch snapshots to change assessment — making monitoring data truly serve decisions
Illustration · multi-epoch phreatic line comparison and property conversion chain (values shown are illustrative)
Making resistivity data speak engineering language directly
Builds a resistivity–moisture content relationship based on Archie's equation with field-calibrated parameters, suited to dams dominated by sandy soils.
Separate conversion models are built for dam zones (impervious element / shell / transition zones), improving accuracy for zoned dams.
Measured moisture content from field borehole samples is used to correct conversion parameters; project-level fitting substantially improves accuracy.
Outputs moisture content ranges and change trends rather than single-point absolute values — presenting uncertainty honestly makes the results more usable.
The value of monitoring lies not in the precision of a single measurement, but in capturing the changes that matter
Time-series comparison Generate resistivity/moisture content time-series curves at any location, clearly showing long-term trends and seasonal fluctuations.
Areal change rate Computes the areal change rate between two epochs and highlights areas of significant resistivity change, quickly locating anomalous zones.
Baseline comparison Comparison against same-period historical baselines removes normal seasonal variation and highlights genuine anomalous deviations, reducing false alarms.
Correlation analysis Resistivity changes are correlated with water level and rainfall. Changes explained by environmental factors are classified as normal responses; the residuals indicate real risks.
Multi-method comparison Electrical profiles are overlaid with piezometer, measuring weir, and fiber-optic data; agreement across multiple sources makes conclusions reliable.
An animation beats a table of numbers — the seepage development is clear at a glance
Plays resistivity/moisture profile changes frame by frame along the acquisition sequence, showing the seepage development directly.
Freely select a time range for comparison and focus on specific events (flood season, water transfer, before/after remediation).
Export the time playback as video/GIF for presentations and figures in safety assessment reports.
Key events (sudden water level rise, rainfall episodes, remediation actions) are marked on the timeline in sync, supporting causal analysis.
From resistivity profiles to moisture content distribution, then automatic extraction of the phreatic line — connecting geophysical results directly to engineering language
Based on the moisture content distribution and the dam material's saturated moisture content parameter, the saturated/unsaturated boundary is identified automatically and the phreatic line geometry is output.
Measured water levels from piezometers on the same section calibrate and validate the identified line; multi-source cross-checking raises confidence.
Each epoch automatically generates a phreatic line, building a time series that shows rise/fall trends and shape changes.
Automatic alerts when phreatic line elevation or geometry exceeds set thresholds, linking directly into dam safety management workflows.
Phreatic line results from multiple monitoring sections can be compared together for a comprehensive view of the dam's overall seepage state.
Key indicators — phreatic line position, change rate, comparison with design values — are automatically included in monthly/annual reports.
From Lite to Pro, matched to projects of different scale and depth
1–2 ERT monitoring profiles Scheduled automatic acquisition Basic data display Method applicability report For the validation phase · small reservoirs Ask about this solution
3–5 profiles across dam body + foundation 24-hour online monitoring Pore pressure / water level / measuring weir integration Time-lapse comparison + moisture content conversion Automatic phreatic line detection Tiered alert push notifications For medium reservoirs · critical embankments Ask about this solution
Integrated network covering dam body + foundation + abutment bypass All sensor types integrated 3D seepage field visualization Automatic phreatic line detection Intelligent fusion early-warning algorithms Time playback + comparative analysis Annual safety assessment service For large reservoirs · high dams and large impoundments Ask about this solution
Stating a method's limits up front is what professionalism looks like — and what sets our solution apart
The subsurface itselfcannot be measured with exact precision. Any geophysical monitoring system claiming "millimeter/degree precision" is not being honest. What we provide istrends and relative changes, not absolute fixed values.
The conversion from resistivity to moisture content carries reasonable uncertainty. We userange outputs, trend markers, and comparison baselinesto make "imprecision" usable information.
Conversion relies onproject-specific empirical parameters. The better the parameters fit reality and the more samples available, the more reliable the conversion. We claim no universal formula — every project requires its own calibration.
A single geophysical method is non-unique, and a single alert may be a false alarm.Dam-grade safety monitoring should combine multiple methods— this has always been our position, and it is why the platform performs comparative analysis.
From method validation to system build-out, from new projects to upgrades of existing facilities
Run an online monitoring method trial on an existing dam to verify applicability Hardware + software + field support 1–2 representative profiles Baseline acquisition + comparative analysis Method applicability report delivered Best for: validation phase
Solution design + equipment supply + installation & commissioning + platform onboarding + O&M Multi-section monitoring system build-out Unified integration of multi-source sensors Platform deployment and data dashboards Long-term O&M support services Best for: critical dams · well-defined requirements
Bring existing monitoring device data onto the platform to increase its value Existing equipment data integration Automated processing + comparative analysis Tiered alerts + push notifications Periodic analysis reports Best for: existing facilities · fast results
Book a one-to-one solution consultation and get the geophysical digital solution that fits you